Hey! You still have time to get ready for the Australian Poetry Slam Regional Heat at Cowra Library. Just two minutes could change your life! Get up and have your say - tell a story, say some rap or try some poetry - whatever - it doesn't matter, have fun and see if you can win over the audience - they are the judges. Its loads of fun and check out the amazing display at Cowra Library with loads of tips and ideas for budding performers. And look out for host Miles Merrill, he'll be entertaining everyone with his own special brand of spoken word artistry - a must see. Performers sign up from 5pm and the fun begins at 5.30pm at Cowra Library, Darling Street, Cowra.

A big congratulations to Canowindra Library who were finalists in the 2009 "Best Business in Cabonne" section of the Cabonne Daroo Awards 2009.

This isn't the first time that Canowindra Library has been so honoured so it's well done Alan yet again!

If you haven't been to our Canowindra Library it's worth a visit situated as it is in Gaskell Street among the shops (a great temptation for those of us visiting from Orange). Take time to explore the town while you're there.

Did you know that alcohol is the most widely used drug in Australia? That alcohol kills more Australians under the age of 35 than any other drug? or, that the annual cost of alcohol-related absenteeism to the Australian economy is 7.5 million working days? This week is national Drug Action Week, we are highlighting our drug info @ your library resources. Drug info @ your library, a partnership between the State Library of NSW and NSW Health, provides access to the latest and most reliable information about alcohol and other drugs through a dedicated website www.druginfo.sl.nsw.gov.au and maintains, throughout NSW Public Libraries, collections of drug and alcohol books, pamphlets and fact sheets, designed to raise awareness of the harm caused by misuse and the enormous cost to the community. In keeping with the Drug Action Week theme - Alcohol is a drug TOO! - the Library's display focuses on safe alcohol consumption and safe drinking practices. Come in and check it out.

Calling all poets, hip-hop artists, storytellers and other outspoken wordsmiths to speak, scream, howl, whisper or sing your original poem at the Australian Poetry Slam Regional NSW heat -- an electric live event where the audience is the judge! The heat will be held at Cowra Library Darling Street, Cowra on Friday 3 July 5.30pm. Performers sign up from 5pm. All contestants are given a mic, a live audience and just two minutes to impress the judges (selected at random from the audience) with their spoken word, poetry, hip hop, monologues and stories. Talented spoken word artist Miles Merrill will be the MC. This event is supported by the State Library of NSW and Central West Libraries. So come along and have your say.

Winner of the 2009 Miles Franklin Literary Award is Tim Winton for his work Breath (published by Penguin). On his win, Tim Winton said that this award has tried to do its part over time to stiffen the resolve and bolster the confidence of Australian writers and by honouring local stories and voices it's contributed to the success our literary culture has enjoyed in recent years. Commenting on the winner's novel, the Judging Panel wrote: "Breath is a searing document about masculinity, about risk, and about young people's desire to push the limits. Winton is at the height of his powers as a novelist, and this is his greatest love letter yet to the sea, to the coast of West Australia, and a compelling testimony to the role of surfing in Australian culture. Written in Winton's own distinctive voice, we can sense that it is also a homage to some of his favourite writers: Salinger, Faulkner, Melville and Hemingway. But as we are drawn in by the elemental currents of its narrative and the compelling, wave-like force of events, Breath raises disturbing questions about desire and 'the damage done'. What lines are crossed during rite's passage? What ethical constraints affect relations between different generations of men and women? Throughout the novel we hear the scream of wind and storm waves and the distant, siren call of the bombora – surf breaking far out at sea. After 'so much damage, too much shame', can there be a going back?" To read more about the author and awards go to the Miles Franklin Trust website http://www.trust.com.au/awards/miles_franklin/

Central West Libraries Manager Jan Richards said environment and relationship themes emerged across all the sections during the judging process in the 2009 Banjo Paterson Writing Awards. The Awards recognise Orange's literary history and further encourages writers to develop their craft. Congratulations to all the entrants and here are the winners:

Prose/ Short Story: Peter W. Bishop, of Scone, NSW for "Lukey"; Panagiotis Papathanasiou, of Hackett, ACT, for "The Lure": Sarah Michell from Lithgow, NSW for "Going Without".

Open Poetry: Judy Johnson, Cardiff, NSW for "The Bushranger's Bible"; Mark Miller, of Shoalhaven Heads, NSW for "Small-Town Journal"; Jo Mills, of Darlington, WA for "Ledge Beach".

Bush Poetry: Ron Stevens, of Dubbo for "The Shame of Staying Put"; Ellis Campbell, of Dubbo, NSW, for "Eulogy of Crows"; Kristen Martin, of West Beach SA, for "Memories by the Murray".

Children's Writing Awards: Isaac Bath, of Duramana NSW for his poem "Bushfire"; Samuel Bath, of Duramana, NSW for his poem "Ducks of the Wild"; Rebekah Ritchie, of Forest Reefs, NSW for her story "The Climbing Experts".

The Yvonne Zola Encouragement Award goes to Lachlan Fenemor, Orange for his story "Doggie Adventure".

Our own much loved "Storytime lady" Fiona has been snapped by The Central Western Daily photographer in full flight reading a story. Storytime is held at 11am on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays during school terms for pre-school age children. Every week the theme for Storytime changes and this week Fiona has been reading about cars and trucks. There is a wealth of evidence to support the fact that children who are read to aloud on a regular basis when they are young, are readily able to learn to read once they start school. It's never too early to start reading to your child. Even babies love hearing nursery rhymes. There's no magic formula, no right way of reading and, no special rules. A book, a quiet place, you and your child - it's all you need! See the Storytime news story here http://www.centralwesterndaily.com.au/news/local/news/general/storytime-as-popular-as-ever/1536570.aspx and check out the "storytelling" image series in today's newspaper.

Okay, so speaking of environment, get ready for light snow below 800 metres - that's us... We have Frosty the Snowman on standby, the toboggans are ready and bring on the hot chocolate (helps keep the toes and cockles warm). Yes the official forecast from the Bureau of Meteorology is for "scattered showers in the south, falling as snow on higher ground" maximum temperature 7 (don't think we are there yet)and for Wednesday "isolated showers, tending scattered in the south, falling as light snow above 800 metres. Fresh to strong west to southwest winds with temperatures - 1 to 4 and for Thursday temperatures are forecast to range from -3 to 6." Winter has arrived and its the perfect time to curl up with a good book from Central West Libraries.

And the winners of the World Environment Day Community Arts Competition are Primary – Freya Hawke; Primary – Elizabeth Bilton – Highly Commended; Primary Group – Orange Public School 6J (Penguins - see picture); Primary Group – Orange Public School 3N – Highly Commended; Secondary – Ayla Manwaring; Adult – Stephen Nugent and Adult – Yvette Black – Highly Commended. Entries were judged by Orange Art Gallery Director Alan Sisley and Orange City Librarian Elizabeth Barry. The competition is an initiative of ECCO (Environmentally Concerned Citizens of Orange) and Orange City Council. Come and see all the entries on display at Orange City Library for the next week. There are landscapes, poems, stories, a globe, robots, collages, drawings and lots of recycled materials put to artistic use. Freya Hawke was excited to learn she had won for her work called Environmental Helpers. She demonstrated how it works and the environmental tip I received was "to help save petrol walk or ride instead of taking the car". I think I can do that. And a tip from the Library is to splurge $1 on a Library Bag and you'll never have to use a plastic bag again.

Author of Wool Sheds The Anvils that Forged a Nation, Russell Moor, will bring to life the history of wool sheds and an industry that is at the very roots of our development as a nation, the Australian Wool Industry, when he speaks about his new book. The book features photographs of significant wool sheds as well as maps and drawings. Come along to Orange City Library on Thursday 11 June from 12.30pm - 1.30pm to hear Russell speak about wool sheds including Coombing Park (Carcoar), Cliefden (Mandurama) and Old Errowanbang (Carcoar). Please let us know you are coming along by calling 6393 8132.